Playing-ball.



No. 700,942. Patented May 27,1902.

E. KEMPSHALL.

PLAYING BALL.

' (Application meg Apr. 9. 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

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ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEMPSI-IALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PLAYING-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 700,942, dated May 27, 1902. Application filed April 9, 1902. fa'erial No. 102,029. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing'in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing-Balls, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing-balls, and especially to those used in the game of golf; and its principal object is to increase the resiliency and flying power of the ball.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a part-sectional View of a playing-ball made in accordance with my present improvements. Fig. 2 illustrates, partly in section, a core formed of rubber threads or strips and used in making my improved ball. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating one way of cutting the threads or strips which form the core. Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of forming a shell upon the core.

Upon a center piece 3, preferably of guttapercha, I wind at high tension threads or strips a of soft rubber to form a sphericalbody or core 1, the threads or strips being wound continuously in different directions. Said core I inclose in segments 6 and 7 of guttapercha and weld the latter together when heated in suitable dies 8 and'9, the complete shell being indicated at 5, Figs. 1 and 3. The

dies are preferably provided with pits 10, so'

as to form brambles upon the shell, as at c. The pressure of the dies upon the balls is maintained until the shell cools and hardens. After removing the ball from the dies I form one or more holes d in the shell, into each of which I introduce a sharp blade or instrument e to sever some or all of the windings of tensioned rubber, as indicated at 9, Fig. 8. Preferably the severing process is carried to an extent to substantially release all of the threads, as illustrated at Fig. 1, in which the playing-ball is indicated by the letter A. The holes I close by plugs, as at m on, Fig. 1.

It will be understood that when winding the rubber threads they are highly attenuated by reason of the tension put thereon, and hence they pack closely together throughout the core 1, and more layers are requiredin making said core than would be required for a core of equal diameter and having the threads wound in an untensioned condition. It will also be understood that when the threads are out, as already explained, they are released and tend to recover their normal conditionoriginal form instantly, and hence the ball springs from the club with phenomenal speed. Moreover, because of the compressed condition of the severed rubber threads they resist further compression from the club, and hence the liveliness of the ball-is augmented. The energy stored up in the threads when they are Wound under tension to form the core in stead of being exerted, as heretofore, to com press the core is transformed into expansive energy, which tends powerfully to expand the shell, and hence greatly improve the playing qualities of the ball.

The process of making my improved playing-ball forms the subject-matter of my other pending application, filed April 14, 1902, Serial No. 102,804.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A playing-ball comprising a core and a shell thereon; said core consisting of a mass of bits of rubber and beingheld under compression by said shell.

2. A playing-ball comprising a core and a shell of plastic material thereon; said core consisting of a mass of severed rubber threads or strips held under compression by said shell.

3. A playing-ball comprising a shell and a core; the latter consisting of windings or 5 layers of tensioned rubber threads, and at least a considerable portion of said windings being severed, so that at least a large part of the threads are released and exert a constant expansive pressure upon said shell.

4. Aplaying-ball comprising a shell of plastic material and a core; the latter consisting of amass of fragments of rubber threads, whose tendency is to shorten and thicken, said tendency being resisted by said shell.

5. Aplaying-ball comprising a shell and a core; the latter consisting of a mass of fragments of rubber threads or strips, the ends of said fragments being unsecured, and said fragments exerting pressure upon said shell.

6. A playing-ball comprising a shell and a core; the latter consisting of windings or layers of tensioned rubber threads; said core being mutilated at different points, and many or all of the rubber threads being released by reason of said mutilation and tending constantly to expand said shell.

7. Aplaying-ball comprisinga gutta-percha shell and a core; the latter consisting of windings or layers of tensioned rubber threads; said shell and core being mutilated at different points, and the rubber threads being released by reason of said mutilation, and tending constantly to expand said shell.

8. A playing-ball comprising a shell and core; the latter consisting of windings or layers of tensioned rubber threads, and at least a portion of said windings being severed, whereby at least some of the threads are released and exert a constant expansive pressure upon said shell; and the latter having closed apertures.

9. Aplaying-ball comprising a shell which consists of welded segments of plastic material, and a core; the latter consisting ofwindings or layers of tensioned rubber threads, and at least a portion of said windings being severed, whereby at least a portion of the threads are released and exert a constant expansive pressure upon said shell.

ELEAZER KEMPSHALL.

Witnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY,

J. H. CLARKSON. 

